Make your own super adorable skirt for under $5

As a college kid on a budget, I don't have much extra moolah to spend on new clothes. This becomes a problem when spring weather arrives and I see all the cute skirts and dresses in the store windows.

I was perusing Pinterest (as I often do) and I came across a tutorial on how to make a skirt out of an old men's shirt. I modified it a bit to fit my limited sewing abilities, headed to the thrift store, and got my supplies. I ended up making two, and they turned out super cute, so I thought I would share my method with everybody!

From an old women's eyelet shirt, size S

From an old boy's shirt, size XL

What you need:
1. Old button-down shirt (I ended up trying one men's and one women's... they both turned out fine)
2. Scissors
3. Needle & thread (or sewing machine)
4. Elastic (I used 1/2 inch knit elastic)

What you do:
1. Lay the shirt out flat.

2. Cut straight across from armpit to armpit. I freehanded it, but looking back I would recommend that you use a ruler or something to make sure you are cutting a straight line. You will be using the part under the arms. You can throw away the top part, or use it to make belt loops if you are feeling super ambitious.

3. Cut a piece of elastic. Use your waist as a measurement. Your piece of elastic should be about 10 inches shy of making it all the way around. This is one of those things you can guesstimate on, it doesn't have to be exact.

4. Take the fabric you cut from the shirt. On the top part (the side where you cut), fold over the edge so that you have a little pocket wide enough for the elastic to fit through. Sew all the way around the top at the edge of your fold, leaving a gap for the elastic.

5. Thread the elastic into the little pocket you made in your top hem. I found it easiest to put a safety pin on the end of the elastic and use that to push it through. As you go, bunch up the fabric so that you can find the end of the elastic.

6. When one end of the elastic meets the other, sew the edges in place so that they form a circle.




You are done! You now have a super cute skirt for less than $5. I think I will be making a lot more of these, so hopefully I will have pictures for the steps on here soon!